Circuit-changer.



No. 663,6!2. Patented Dec. ll, I900. E. UXLEY.

CIRCUIT CHANGER.

(Application filed May 29, 1899.

(No Model.)

Fig.2.

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Yes- 2? 77 I 2 Witnesses. Inventor.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

EUSTACE OXLEY, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF NEi/V YORK.

CIRCUIT-CHANGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 663,612, dated December 1 1, 1900.

Application filed May 29,1899- b'erial No. 718,651, (No d m To all whom it may concern: ing liquid 2. I prefer to use mercury; but Be it known that I, EUSTAOE OXLEY, a subconducting liquids of other character, such jectof the Queen of Great Britain, residing at as electrolytes, might be employed. Dip- Lynn, in the county of Essex, State of Hassaping into the mercury and immersed to a suit- 55 chusetts, have invented certain new and useable depth therein is a circuit terminal or ful Improvementsin Circuit-Changers, (Case contact 3, preferably of semicircular form, No. 974,) of which the following is a specifithough any other shape is consistent with the cation. purposes of my invention. The contact 3 is Myinvention relates to switches or circuitrigidly secured in place and remains perma- 60 1o changers for electric circuits, my purpose benently in the mercury.

ing to provide a device for opening and clos- Upon suitable supports or bearings a shaft ing a circuit without moving either switch- 5 is mounted, upon which is rigidly lixed terminal, the current being interrupted by a semicircular shell or hood 6, having apthe interposition of a non-conducting wall proximately the form of the contact 3, but of 65 between two terminals connected by a consuch increased dimensions that it can-conducting liquid. tain orinclose thelatter. Said shell is formed It is also an object of my invention to perof or covered with any suitable insulating or mit the circuit to be opened or closed by the non-conducting substancesuch,- for examexertion of a merely nominal power, whereby ple, as hard rubber, glass, porcelain,wood cov- 7o automatic circuit-breakers and similar deered with paraffin or varnished, metal having vices can be operated automatically by means an insulating coating, the. It is so arranged of great simplicity, which can be manufacupon the shaft 5 that as thelatter is turned in tured at very low cost. one direction said hood will enter the mercury It is a further object to provide a device and pass around and inclose the contact 3, its 75 simple and cheap in construction which will edge when movementis arrested rising above accomplish these results and which can be opthe surface of the mercury. A small portion erated by controlling devices of small power. of the latter will also be inclosed by the shell The invention comprises a current-conor hood; but the interposition of a non-controller in which the terminals are or may be ducting wall between the main body of mer- 8o connected by a liquid conductor and means eury and the switch-terminal 3 completely for interposing a non-conducting diaphragm cuts off the current. A reverse movement between them. It comprises also a device of establishes the circuit by simply withdrawthis kind having fixed circuit-terminals and ing the wall interposed between the two con a movable diaphragm of insulating material. ducting-bodiesviz., the mercury and the 35 It also comprises other more specific features, terminal lying therein. I have shown in this which will be hereinafter described and instance a single-pole switch only; but it is claimed. evident that the application of myinvention In the drawings, which show a simple orto a multipole switch involves merely a duganization embodying my invention, Figure plication of the parts already described. Thus 4.0 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying I provide a switch which can be operated my improvements. Fig. 2 is a vertical secquickly and requires, practically speaking, tion on a plane parallel to that on which Fig. only a nominal power for its operation. By 1 is projected. eounterbalancin'g the shell or hood 6 upon The reference-numeral 1 in said drawings the shaft 5 a slight force upon the shaft will 4.5 indicates my preferred form of containing turn the hood. As the latter can be made of vessel, formed of conducting material-such thin material, it is light, causes no sensible as iron, aluminium, or other suitable mate- .rise and fall of the mercury bydisplacement, rial-although I may use a vessel formed of and produces no flash or agitation of the same a non-conducting substance, but provided upon entering 01' leaving said mercury. As 50 with a conducting-lining. This containing the shaft is the only part on which any ac- Vessel holds when in use a body of conducttion is exerted, the switch-contact and the mercury and hood may be placed in a hermetically-sealed housing,th us excluding dust, dirt, and moisture and entirely preventing loss of mercury by volatilization. This switch is ordinarily adapted for use as a circuitbreaker, since it can be operated by a small and comparatively weak electromagnet or other automatic means. It can be used upon any circuit and with any current, and its simplicity and small size enable it to be produced at an extremely low cost.

I have shown in the drawings a simple structure to effect magnetic control, 7 representing an armature playing between and controlled by electromagnets 8 8. To provide a considerable range of armature movement, the magnets may have tapering or paraboloidal pole-pieces, as shown, the armature being bored to permit its passage over the pole-pieces, thus permitting a small air-gap and a long throw. The free end of the armature may carry a rack-sector engaging a pinion on shaft 5, as shown.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. rxcircuit-changercomprisingcircuit-terminals, a liquid conductor connecting them, and an insulating-shell movable to surround one terminal and thus break the circuit.

2. A circuit-changer comprising two circuit-terminals, one surrounding the other, a

conducting liquid between them, and a movable non-conducting wall to separate the terminals or permit their contact.

3. A circuit-changer comprising two terminals, one inclosing the other a conducting liquid between them, and a movable hood having insulating-walls to inclose the inner terminal and open the circuit.

t. A circuit-changer comprising a conducting liquid such as mercury, a contact or terminal contacting therewith, and a non-con ducting shell or hood arranged to enter said liquid and pass around and inclose the contact, its edge rising suitably above the surface to rupture the circuit.

5. A circuit-changer comprising a body of conducting liquid such as mercury, a switch contact or terminal lying permanently therein, a non-conducting shell or hood mounted on a shaft and adapted to turn therewith and enter said liquid, surround the contact lying therein and rise suilably above the surface, whereby said circuit is opened, and means for operating said shaft.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of May, 1899.

EUSTACE OXLEY.

Vitnesses:

DUGALD MCKILLOP, EDWARD WILLIAMs, Jr. 

